The Oneida Calamity

George L. "Watson, third mate of the Bombay, was officer of the deck at the time of the collisioD, and to bis neglect ful conduct tho disaster is attributed. ïhfiro had been the usual bustle and confusión cousequent upou gotling a great ship ready for port, and all tho expeiionced eeainen were needed ia this work. Both watohes wero turned up and put hard at ir, and when they wero still short handcd, Watson called the qunrluriuuslcr oud IWO luokOUtS froni their post and sent sorno raw hands aloft who werc useless for such service. When the hurry was over, Wfttson still loft e green hands to stare into tho gray uight with their unaecustomed eyes and run over ships withoiit giving aoy notice - but why he did this we caunot kuovv, Simply tlirougb. furgetfuluess no doubt. Wa'son is an American by birth, and has nlwuys been of aroving, reckless disposition. His name is montioned iu con nection with several questionable oaterprises in these seas and elsewherc, but he did one thing during tha rebelliou whioh gave himas pleasant a notoriety fora while as this last episode in his career is likely to gtve him an unpleasant one. For this is tho same man whose bnmbshell exploit oLF Charleston was the subject of the song, still sung in tho navy, ot " Bombshell Watson ahoy !" IIo was boatswain's mate on board tho Pembina during the bombarduient of Fort Sumter, and one day he climbed' into lbo maintop to carry a message to the second lieutenant, when just as he doffed his hat and opened his mouth, a screaming bombshell described its smoking arch in the heaveus, and lit right bctween the two men. Watson stopped among tho smoke, took up tho shclland threw it ovorboard, remarkiog, " I got here first, and I calo'lato tospeak first I" It is a pity sucb presence of mind as that should havo degeneratcd into such melancholy oarelessuess as he is just now charged with.